Aircraft and Modular Propulsion Unit

Abstract

An aircraft comprising a wing; a tractor propulsion means (TPM); a pusher propulsion means (PPM); a cruising propulsion means (CPM); and wherein the TPM is capable of providing a thrust, the direction of thrust reversibly movable from a forward propelling direction, to an upward propelling direction; and wherein the PPM is capable of providing a thrust, the direction of thrust reversibly movable from a forward propelling direction, to an upward propelling direction; and wherein the CPM is capable of providing a thrust, the direction of thrust being in a forward propelling direction; and wherein the TPM and PPM are connected to the wing, and wherein the TPM is located in fore of the wing and the PPM is located in aft of the wing.

1 . An aircraft comprising
 a wing;   a tractor propulsion means (TPM);   a pusher propulsion means (PPM);   a cruising propulsion means (CPM); and   wherein the TPM is capable of providing a thrust, the direction of thrust reversibly movable from a forward propelling direction, to an upward and propelling direction; and   wherein the PPM is capable of providing a thrust, the direction of thrust reversibly movable from a forward propelling direction, to an upward and propelling direction; and   wherein the CPM is capable of providing a thrust, the direction of thrust being in a forward propelling direction; and   wherein the TPM and PPM are connected to the wing, and wherein the TPM is located in fore of the wing and the PPM is located in aft of the wing.   
     
     
         2 . The aircraft of  claim 1 , wherein the TPM, PPM and CPM are independently (i) battery powered; (ii) battery-hybrid powered or (iii) turbo-electrically powered. 
     
     
         3 . The aircraft of  claim 1 , wherein the TPM and PPM each independently comprise one or more propulsion units and the propulsion units comprise electric motors. 
     
     
         4 . The aircraft of  claim 3 , wherein each TPM and PPM comprises 1 to 24 propulsion units, further optionally the TPM and PPM propulsion units are the same in number. 
     
     
         5 . The aircraft of  claim 3 , wherein the propulsion units comprise a propeller or ducted fan. 
     
     
         6 . The aircraft of  claim 3 , wherein the propulsion units are arranged to be reversibly tiltable in an upward and/or downward direction, thereby enabling a change in the direction of thrust. 
     
     
         7 . The aircraft of  claim 3 , wherein the propulsion units of the TPM and PPM are arrangeable to cooperate for lifting, hovering, low speed flying, or controlled descent of the aircraft. 
     
     
         8 . The aircraft of  claim 1 , wherein, when the TPM and/or PPM comprise a propeller, the propeller blades are foldable; optionally wherein the propeller blades fold in a direction towards the wing. 
     
     
         9 . The aircraft of  claim 1 , wherein the TPM and/or PPM are connected to one or more booms, the one or more booms being connected to the wing, wherein the booms extend fore and aft of the wing, wherein the one or more propulsion units of the TPM are located with the fore portion of the booms and the one or more propulsion units of the PPM are located with the aft portion of the booms; optionally the propulsion units are located at the distal end of the booms. 
     
     
         10 . The aircraft of  claim 1 , wherein the CPM is located on: i) a payload compartment; ii) on the wing; iii) on the wing tips or iv) on winglets. 
     
     
         11 . An aircraft of  claim 1 , wherein the CPM optimised for cruising flight and the TPM and PPM are optimised for VTOL. 
     
     
         12 . The aircraft of  claim 1 , wherein the propulsion units of the CPM, TPM and/or PPM are arrangeable to effect control/steering of the aircraft, by means of varying the relative thrusts of the propulsion units and/or by varying a direction of thrust of each of the propulsion units. 
     
     
         13 . The aircraft of  claim 1 , wherein the aircraft is capable of both vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) and short take-off and landing (STOL). 
     
     
         14 . An aerial propulsion module comprising
 a separating body;   a tractor propulsion means (TPM);   a pusher propulsion means (PPM);   wherein the TPM and PPM independently comprise one or more propulsion units, the propulsion units comprising an electric motor; and   wherein the TPM and PPM are connected to and spaced apart by the separating body; and   wherein the separating body is fixable to the wing of an aircraft; and   wherein, when the separating body is attached to a wing of the aircraft, the TPM is arranged to lie in fore of the wing and the PPM is arranged to lie in aft of the wing; and   wherein, when the separating body is attached to a wing of the aircraft, the TPM is capable of providing a thrust, the direction of thrust reversibly movable from a forward propelling direction, to an upward propelling direction; and wherein, when the separating body is attached to the wing of an aircraft, the PPM is capable of providing a thrust, the direction of thrust reversibly movable from a forward propelling direction, to an upward propelling direction;   and wherein the TPM and PPM have means capable of communication with the aircraft.   
     
     
         15 . The module of  claim 14 , wherein the separating body is a boom; optionally the TPM and PPM are located at the distal ends of the boom. 
     
     
         16 . The module of  claim 14 , wherein the propulsion units comprise a propeller or ducted fan. 
     
     
         17 . The module of  claim 14 , when the separating body is attached to a wing of an aircraft, and the propulsion units are arranged to be reversibly tiltable in an upward and/or downward direction, thereby enabling a change in the direction of thrust. 
     
     
         18 . The module of  claims 14 , wherein the propulsion units of the TPM and PPM are arranged to reversibly tilt in opposite directions. 
     
     
         19 . An aircraft comprising one or more aerial propulsion modules according to  claim 13 . 
     
     
         20 . An aircraft comprising
 a wing;   a tractor propulsion means (TPM);   a pusher propulsion means (PPM);   a cruising propulsion means (CPM); and   wherein the TPM is capable of providing a thrust:   i) the direction of thrust reversibly movable from a forward propelling direction, to an upward propelling direction; or   ii) the direction of thrust fixed in an upward propelling direction;   wherein the PPM is capable of providing a thrust:   i) the direction of thrust reversibly movable from a forward propelling direction, to an upward propelling direction; or   ii) the direction of thrust fixed in an upward propelling direction;   wherein the CPM is capable of providing a thrust, the direction of thrust being in a forward propelling direction; and   wherein the TPM and PPM are connected to the wing, and wherein the TPM is located in fore of the wing and the PPM is located in aft of the wing.   
     
     
         21 . The aircraft of  claim 20 , wherein the TPM, PPM and CPM are independently (i) battery powered; (ii) battery-hybrid powered or (iii) turbo-electrically powered. 
     
     
         22 . The aircraft of  claim 20 , wherein each TPM and PPM comprises 6 to 24 propulsion units.